To Gwen, Billy and Sherry,
Our deepest sympathy at the passing of Uncle Bill. He was a good man and we're sorry we are unable to be with you at this stressful time.
I share a glimpse into some memories of my Uncle Bill in a little poem:
Tales of wars O.C. High School,
His courtship, and the Flanders' pool;
Weekends coming to the Shore
Tony Mart's, weddings, and so much more;
m80s shooting barrels in the air
Herb Albert's Brass he'd always blare;
Hundreds of clams in our sink
Downed with mai-tai or tonic drink;
A panted poodle who wore mink
A booted poodle once dyed pink;
JFK, the Bay of Pigs
Duck and cover, Russian migs!
Heels on boards, dressed so funny
Chief Halftown, others, the Easter Bunny;
Backyard baseball, dodgeball games
Penny antes, barbeque flames;
Eastern Star, Rainbow, Mason conventions
Him, my Dad, their basement inventions;
Weekend practice, heads together
Boxing each number, squaring each letter;
All to pass computer class, And in between mow the grass; Staying friendly, keeping tabs
Finally retiring from Bell Labs;
L stands for Lincoln, he bought wife to drive
Kittens, a woodpile, and yellow jack hive;
Clearing trees and finding snakes
Fruit, chiffon, and devil food cakes;
Fishing, sailing, painting, nailing
Aluminum siding and a railing;
Christmas sharing of his mother
A sister, brother, and another;
A baby boy, dump truck for toy
The entire clan lept for joy;
Then baby girl with hair to curl
Put his world into a whirl;
Some of his hearing he might miss
He was impressed by rock band KISS;
Falling leaves, bye Bob and Sis
Bill now joins them, but hold the bliss;
Because the sole purpose of his life
Was to have and to hold Gwen, his wife;
And so he waits on the other side
For his one true love and only bride.
